Al-Askari Shrine مرقد الإمامين العسكريين
The golden-domed shrine of the tenth and eleventh Shia imams at the centre of Samarra.
The golden-domed shrine at the centre of modern Samarra, burial place of two Shia imams.
The Al-Askari Shrine holds the tombs of Ali al-Hadi and his son Hasan al-Askari, the tenth and eleventh Shia imams, who lived in Samarra in the 9th century. It is also associated with the twelfth imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi.
Its great golden dome was destroyed in a bombing in 2006 and has since been rebuilt. Today the shrine is again a major place of pilgrimage, and its courtyards and mirrored halls are among the most beautiful in Iraq.
Visit with our tour: Historical & Cultural Tour of Iraq →
Travel tips
- Women wear an abaya and headscarf inside the shrine.
Questions & answers
Where is Al-Askari Shrine?
Al-Askari Shrine is in Samarra, Salah al-Din Governorate, Iraq. The map on this page shows its location.
How can I visit Al-Askari Shrine?
Al-Askari Shrine is included in our Historical & Cultural Tour of Iraq tour (10 days / 9 nights). You can book it on WhatsApp, and we arrange the guide, transport and any permissions.